I can't believe this is happening!

It's Saturday afternoon and this morning I had a weekly check-in with the other members of the BLOOM Intensive. Olubode Shawn Brown, Chantal Georges, and Kweku Aacht are the hosts and we connect on Zoom every Saturday for 12 weeks with the other members to find our B.I.G. (Big Impossible Goal). I learned of this journey in the likeliest of places for me while walking on the street where I live. I bumped into Chantal in August and she introduced me to Olubode who is the founder of BLOOM (a movement of people who are seeking to live more authentic lives as we deliver our gifts to the planet). I've realized how community deeply intersects with professional life and I bring the energy of the people around me (in this instance my physical neighbors) to everything I do.

My B.I.G., The Advocate's Mic was years in the making, however, it came to fruition this past summer when I took a career coaching course. The experience was eye-opening for me in many ways and I learned how important it is to have the voices of self-advocates included in the conversation. They are the ones who truly know best. I was also introduced to Stephanie Singer who had such enthusiasm for sharing her story, that it was fitting to have her on The Podium as the first speaker.

As the ideas for the platform brewed in my head, I started to ask myself who could help me get this off the ground. I turned to one of my closest friends (Laura Varrone) who has worked on creative projects with me before. She affirmatively said yes when I asked her if she wanted to go to Norfolk, Virginia to sit down with Stephanie for our very first interview. Here we are on a warm September day after we went to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens for the taping of our conversation.

Now going back to my B.I.G. The Intensive is perfect timing for this project as it helps me clarify my goals and vision. On the weekly Zoom calls, we discuss as a collective group our different B.I.G.s. I've decided to share it with you below.

I am a recruiter of speakers that are amplifying the voices of people marginalized by their experiences or circumstances. My vision is a world where every voice is heard stemming from my experience growing up and feeling like I didn't fit in. The gifts I bring are the passion I have for meeting people, the ability to share other people's stories by asking thought-provoking questions, and uplifting people. I've had over 20 years of recruiting experience and started my career at one of the most prestigious law firms in the world. That first job gave me invaluable connections and brand recognition for the work I do now. This platform enables me to bring back my own voice while making others louder. My intention is to impact the lives of one million people by the end of 2022. Excited to have you all on this journey with me!

#equity #community #inclusivity #workplace #humanresources #leadership #employer